8 Ways Brexit Could Affect Studentsfeatured

Last week we watched months of campaigning, lengthy debates, and political posturing come to a grisly end, when the UK voted to leave the EU. Whichever way you voted, it’s hard to deny that we probably face months or even years of economic and political uncertainty. The referendum kicked off a Labour leadership coup and the resignation of the Prime Minister, meaning that we don’t even have much of a government at the moment. Roughly three-quarters of under-25s voted to Remain, many of them students, and will now be wondering how Brexit has changed their futures. Many of them are furious. Nothing is certain yet (or will be for quite a while), so there’s a lot of ‘could’, ‘would’, ‘may’ and ‘might’ below, but nevertheless here are some of the ways in which students in particular could be affected by the referendum result.

Students are ‘too depressed’ to sit their exams

According to an article in the Independent, students and A-Level pupils across Britain are too shocked and saddened to concentrate on revision or their exams in the wake of Brexit. Grief and uncertainty over the future are valid reasons for feeling down, but it’s probably best to say ‘sod ‘em’, do amazingly in your exams and become political experts so you can clear up this mess and prevent such ridiculousness happening again!

Exchange programmes are at risk

More seriously, students’ opportunities abroad could be cut right down. Until now students have enjoyed easy access to exchange programmes such as Erasmus, allowing them to live and study in a variety of European countries with as little fuss as possible. Such schemes are amazing for international networking, experiencing other cultures, giving you something to impress people with in job interviews, gaining work experience, opening up hundreds of possibilities for working abroad, and showing potential employers you can cope with high-pressured and unfamiliar environments. These are just a few benefits under threat as Britain faces leaving the EU, as free movement is restricted and Erasmus is run by the EU itself.

Universities could lose funding

Higher education institutions in the UK receive a hefty chunk of funding from the EU, so if this is lost, they face a whole lot more financial pressure, and students may suffer as a result. In plans announced in May by Universities Minister Jo Johnson, universities could be allowed to raise tuition fees above £9,000 from autumn 2017, which they may well take advantage of to boost their ailing income.

Food prices could increase

The UK depends on imported food, and the president of the National Farmers’ Union has warned that the price of your grocery shop could be about to go up, especially with the value of the pound plunging. The UK only produces 60% of the food we consume, so that 40% will become more expensive, while exports will generate less income for the British economy. Even the cost of food produced on our shores could shoot up to compensate for farmers losing the 55% of their income provided by EU subsidies, and the rising cost of workers as cheap labour will no longer be available. Students already have to make do on less, with maintenance grants being scrapped and fewer chances to earn when studying, so this is just going to stretch their finances further.

Research could take a hit

The British scientific community almost completely supported remaining in the EU (one poll suggested as many as 83% wanted to stick around) and are warning that funding for research in the UK, and collaboration with researchers and projects across Europe, could come under threat. Over the period 2007-2013, the UK contributed around €5.4 billion to EU research and development and received €8.8 billion back in direct funding for science, according to the Royal Society. Withdrawing this funding might affect employment of graduates in the sciences hoping to go into scientific research, and stop students in the UK benefiting from the expertise of professors from Europe.

Welsh students might start paying full whack

Of all the nations making up the UK, Wales probably benefited the most from the EU. Although exact figures are difficult to come by, it’s estimated that it receives about €653-747 million per year - and as it contributes roughly €630 million, the country clearly receives more than it puts in. The money comes from the Erasmus scheme, agricultural bodies and structural funding supporting business, research and innovation. This makes the overwhelming vote to Leave slightly bewildering, and means that student funding may come under threat, including the brilliant top-up grant that prevents Welsh-domiciled students from paying the full £9,000 of tuition fees.

EU students’ fees could rise

At the moment, students from the EU benefit from the same tuition fees as home students and the same access to fee loans. No immediate changes to this have been announced and the government has said that EU nationals currently studying in England, or who start studying before Brexit officially happens, will be protected from fees changes. Many universities have already declared that they will keep their tuition fees the same for now, although of course as the impact of Brexit becomes clearer, provision may become less generous.

UK students in the EU could get an EU passport

Irish authorities are struggling to meet the demand for Irish passports by Britons keen to remain in the EU, but there could be another way for students eager to travel abroad. EU leaders are currently discussing the idea of giving British students an EU passport and citizenship if they study in Europe for two years or more, which would keep the international job market open for them and allow them to make the most of the opportunities of cultural exchange and an international education. It’s still up in the air though, so watch the news for developments.

Nothing is immediate, as only once Article 50 has been ‘triggered’ can two years of negotiations begin. Only then will students see for certain how their lives will change. There’s time for prospective graduates to plan their next move, for those deciding where to go for uni to explore their international options, and for EU-UK negotiations to set out the boundaries, allowances and restrictions for British and EU citizens. Hopefully this will motivate more young people to use their vote at the next opportunity, despite the utter lack of engagement by most top politicians in students’ concerns. No matter what, the only thing that’s certain is that things will change, and students are holding their breath to see if it will ultimately be for the better, as Leavers promised.